NO PLAYS EXCHANGED. 






'Baher'3 Edition' 

81= PLAY3 




COPYRIGHT, 1889, BY WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 



piays for /Imatedr Sl^eatrieals. 

BV GEORGE 2U^. BKKER. 

Author cf ^* Amateur Dramas,"" "The Mimic Stage" "y%e Social Stage" "The Drawings 
Room. Stage" ^'^ Handy Dramas" "The Exhibition Dramas" "A Baker'' s Dozen" etc. 

Titles in this Type are New Plays. 

Titles in this Type are Temperance Plays. 



DRAMAS. 

In Four A cts. 
Better than Gold. 7 male, 4 female 
char 

In Three Acts. 

Our Folks. 6 male, 5 female char. 

The Flower of the Family. 5 
male, 3 female char 

Enlisted for the War. 7 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

My Brother's Keeper. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

The Little JBrown Jag. 5 male, 3 
female char 

In Two A cts. 
Ahove the Clouds. 7 male, 3 female 

char 

One Hundred Tears Ago. 7 male, 

4 female char 

Among the Breakers. 6 male, 4 female 

char 

Bread on the Waters. 5 male, 3 female 

char 

Down by the Sea. 6 male, 3 female 

char. 

Once on a Time. 4 male, 2 female char. 
The Last Jjoaf. 5 male, 3 female char. 

In One Act. 
Stand by the Flag. 5 male char. . . 
The Tempter. 3 male, i female char. 

COMEDIES AND FARCES. 

A Mysterious Disappearance. 4 

male, 3 female char 

Paddle Your Own Canoe. 7 male 

3 female char. . , 

A. Drop too Much, 4 male, i female 

char 

A Little More Cider. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

A Thorn Among the Roses. 2 male, 6 
female char 

Nevbr .Say Die. 3 male, 3 female char. 

Seeing the Elephant. 6 male, 3 female 
char 

The Boston Dip. 4 male, 3 female char. 

The Duchess of Dublin. 6 male, 4 fe- 
male char 

Thirty Minutes for Refreshments. 

4 male, 3 female char 

We're all Teetotalers. 4 male, 2 fe- 
male char. 

Male Characters Only, 
A Close Shavb. 6 char. ...... 

A Public Benefactor. 6 char. . . . 

A Ska of Troubles. 8 char 



COMEDIES, etc., continued. 

^ Male Characters Only. 
A Tender Attachment. 7 char. , . 
Coals of Fire. 6 char. ...... 

Freedom of the Press. 8 char. . . . 

Shall Onr Mothers Vote? 1 1 char. 
Gentlemen of the Jury. 12 char. . . 
Humors of the Strike. 8 char. . . . 

My Uncle the Captain. 6 char. . . . 

New Brooms Sweep Clean. 6 char. 

The Great Elixir. 9 char 

The Hypochondriac. 3 char 

The Man with the JDemiJohn. 4 

char 

The Runaways. 4 char. ...... 

The Thief of Time. 6 char 

Wanted, a Male Cook. 4 char. . . . 

Female Characters Only. 

A Love of a Bonnet. 5 char 

A Precious Pickle. 6 char 

No Cure No Pay. 7 char 

The Champion of Her Sex. 8 char. 
The Greatest Plague in Life. 8 char. 

The Grecian Benu. 7 char 

The Red Chignon. 6 char 

Using the Weed. 7 char 

ALLEGORIES. 

A rrangedfor Music a7id Tableaux. 



Lighthart's Pilgrimage. 
char 



8 female 



The Revolt of the Bees. 9 female 
char . 

The Sculptor's Triumph, i male. 4 fe- 
male char 

The Tournament of Idylcourt. 10 fe- 
male char 

The War of the Roses. 8 female char. 

The Voyage of Life. 8 female char. . 

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC. 

An Original Idea. i male, i female 

Bonbons; or, the Paint King. 6 rnale, 
I female char ' . . 

Capuletta; or, Romeo and Juliet 
Restored. 3 male, i female char. 

Santa Claus' Frolics 

Snow-bound; or, Alonzo the Brave, 
and the Fair Imogene. 3 male, i 
female char 

The Merry Christmas of the Old 
Woman who Lived in a Shoe. . . . 

The Pedler of Very Nice. 7 male 
char 

The Seven Ages. A Tableau Entertain- 
ment. Numerous male and female char. 

Too Late for the Train. 2 male char. 

The Visions of Freedom, ii female 
char 



WALTER H. BAKER & CO., 23 Winter St., Boston 



CHUMS 



A FARCE IN ONE ACT 



BY THE AUTHOR OF "CLASS DAY" 



■ V ^-^A^-V-^. v»w.*._^^ ^ ■. N^'Hil^^S^sSfV 



Originally flayed by Graduate Members of the Pi Eta 

Society of Harvard College, at Beethoven Hall., 

Boston, Tuesday Evening, Feb. 2g, iS'jb. 



l-iCm^y "' 



BOSTON 



4^£^A^/^y^A.,£i^}>^^^ 



"-\o\ 



T5^ 



r 



CHARACTERS. ' 



MR. BREED -^ Vermont Squire 

HARRY BREED, A.B., Haiv., His Soji, ) 

J . . Chums 
TOM B\J\l^llAM, Leadijig Lady of the Pi Eta Theatre) 

FLORA STRONG . . . . . . • Mr. Breed's niece 

MRS. BREED. 

Time, the present day. Season, summer. 

Time in represe^itation, fort)- -five minutes. 



COSTUMES. 

Mr. Breed. — "Daniel Webster" coat, yellow vest, check trousers. 
Mrs. Breed. — Black silk, apron, cap. 

Others, modern and appropriate. 




Copyright, 1S90, by F. A. Harris. 



TMP92-009i84 



CHUMS. 



Scene Sitting-room at Mr. Breed's, in Breedville, Vt. 

Practical windows at back. Tiuo doors R. Door L. 
front; l. in 7niddle of wing. Fire-place and 7nantel 

with ornaments. At centre of 7'oom a table. Flower- 
stand between windows. Bird-cage, chairs, ottomans, 

books, flowers, etc. 
At rise of curtain Mrs. Breed is discovered arranging 

room. 

Mi^s. Breed. There, everything is as tidy as can be. I 
don't see what has o;ot into father. He's done nothing but 
run out of the house, and run in again all the morning. One 
would think the President of the United States was coming to 
visit us, and not our Harry coming home from college. {Enter 
Breed, r.) 

Breed. It's coming, mother. It's coming ! 

Mrs. B. What's coming? 

Br. Why, the coach, to be sure. I just saw it coming 
over the top of the hill. In a few minutes he'll be here. 
{Cross to wijidoiu.) 

Mrs. B. Well, I must say, father, you are in a prodigious 
fidget. One would think the boy had been away for a life- 
time. See how calm I am. {Dusting vigorously .) 

Br. But, mother, it is two years since he spent a vaca- 
tion at home. Last summer, you know, he went with his 
chum, Mr. Burnham. At any rate, if his mother isn't impa- 
tient to see him, his father can — Hark ! there's the gate. 
He's {enter Harry tuith satchel and duster) — Why, 
Harry, my dear boy, how de do, how de do ! {Shakes him 
by the hand vigorously, causing satchel and duster to Jly 
about.) 

3 



4 CHUMS. 

Harry. Right as a trivet, father, and thoroughly glad to 
be back among the Green Mountains once more. Mother. 
{Ejnbraces and kisses her.) 

Mrs. B. Welcome home, Harry. 

Br. Here, give me your satchel ; you must be very tired. 
There, sit down, sit down. {Pushes him into a chair. 
Gives satchel and duster to Mrs. B., who puts them away j 
Br. and Mrs. B. sit.) 

Harry. Oh, no, not tired a bit. The ride was exhila- 
rating. What a rum driver you've got on the coach now. 

Br. Rum "^ I never heard that he drank. 

Harry. Oh, no, dad ! That was only college slang. I 
mean he's odd, funny, you know. 

Mrs. B. Of course, any one could see he meant that, 
father. 

Br. Oh, yes ! I believe he is what you might call eccen- 
tric. But, Harry, tell us all about yourself. What have you 
been doing ? 

Harry. Why, I wrote you. 

Br. Yes, I know, very interesting, very, but they related 
more to matters of finance than general information. What 
I want to know is — 

Mrs. B. {interrupting). What you have learned, Harry ? 
How you've spent these last two years ? 

Br. In fact, all about your college life ? 

Harry. Why, there isn't much -to tell. We have pretty 
much the same life all the time. We eat, sleep, smoke, and 
dig ; that is, those w ho don't trot. 

Br. Dig ? Bless me, I didn't know that at Harvard 
agriculture — 

Harry {interrupting). Hold on, dad ; when I say dig, I 
only mean study hard. College term, you know. And by 
" trot " I mean use a pony. 

Mrs. B. But for men grown, like you, I should think a 
horse — 

Harry {interrupting). Oh, dear, oh, dear! A pony, 
mother, in college is a translation — a book to save lazy 
fellows work. 

Br. Of course, of course ; any one could see he meant 
that, mother. 

Harry. You see nearly all the fast set trot. 

Br. Quite natural, quite natural. But speaking of fast 
men, I can't tell you how glad I am, my boy, to know that 



CHUMS. 5 

you have shunned the temptations that beset the young away 
from home. I feared you might be led to drink, or play 
billiards, or that you might be prevailed upon to enter a 
theatre. But I see you've come back untarnished. 

Harry. Well, but, father, I'm not so awfully good, you 
know. Hard students like myself need a little amusement, a 
little time to — to — as the poet says, "■ Desipere in loco, 
desipere in loco.''' 

Mrs. B. '■'• Desipcre in locoP How he has learned! I 
suppose that means dissiiKite at home, Harry. Chess, or a 
good story like "Pilgrim's Progress," or " The Children of 
the Abbey " ? 

Harry (^zj-zV/t^. And Schoeffel ! {Aloud). Yes — pre- 
cisely — 

Br. Oh, Harry ! I know how you have spent your 
leisure time, I know ! 

Harry {aside). The devil he does ! 

Br. Yes, I knov/. You haven't written, but I have heard 
from some of my neighbors who have seen you in Boston. 
Ah, yes, I know it's not chess, or Bunyan, that you've 
devoted your time to. 

Harry {alantied). But what have they said, sir ? I — 

Br. They said, — I can't tell you how pleased I was to 
hear, — that, instead of going to the theatre, you gave your 
time to art and literature. 

Harry {puzzled). To art ? To literature .? 

Br. Yes ; Deacon Wilder was down to buy his goods 
last winter, and he said he saw you at the AthenEeum. 

Mrs. B. Yes, he told us all about it. 

Br. I remember the Athenceum well. I went there once 
myself. Beautiiul library, fine pictures — fine pictures ! But 
why did they change the name 1 

Harry {puzzled). Change the name .'' 

Br. Why, yes ; when I was there it used to be the 
Boston Athenaeum, but the deacon called it the Howard 
Athenaeum. Is it in honor of the great philanthropist } 

Wakky {confused). Wb.V; you see — the fact is — I — 
{Reco7>ering.) The artists Vv'hose performances are to be 
seen at the Howard are of a more modern school. There's 
more variety there ; while the Boston, as when you were 
there, contains the old masters. 

Br. Oh, yes! I see, I see ! And I know all about your 
swimming, too, sly fellow. You thought to surprise us, but 
you won't. 



6 CHUMS. 

Harry. Swimming — well, of course, I was rather in the 
swim, as we say, but I really don't — 

Mrs. B. {interrupting). Don't pretend to modesty now, 
we know. 

Br. Yes, you remember, Harry, Sam Sprague visited you, 
and when he came home — 

Harry {aside ; goiftg to fro7it). If Sam went back on 
me, I'll murder him! 

Br. {coming after; Mrs. B. also). I thought I'd ask him 
about you. It wasn't quite fair, but I kn^v you were all 
right. I said to Sam, said I, Docs Harry ever play bil- 
liards ? 

Harry {aside). Pocketed! by Jove! 

Br. " Play billiards } " said Sam, " play billiards 1 why, 
he spends half his time at the pool-rooYn." "Does he.''" 
said I, '• does he } Dear boy, I suppose he'll be quite a 
Captain Webb when he comes home." 

Harry {relieved; sitting. All sit). Oh, no, father! 
The fact is, I had to give up the pool, for wet games are so 
expensive. 

Br. Well, well, we'll talk of that another time. {Soberly.) 
But, Harry, there was one thing that Sprague told me that 
grieved me much. 

Mrs. B. Yes, grieved us much. {Wiping eyes.) 

Br. He told me that you spent very many of your even- 
ings at Parker's. 

Harry {aside; groaning). Oh, Lord ! It's coming now ! 

Br. Your mother and I have lain awake nights, thinking 
of your being possibly at Parker's, and under his awful 
influence. 

Mrs. B. Awful influence. 

Harry {excited ; rising). But, sir ! 

Br. {rising). Harry, Ttell you that Theodore Parker is 
little better than an infidel, and for my son — 

Harry {relieved; interrnpting~). My dear father, I 
assure you, I haven't changed my creed. {Aside.) Nor my 
credit. {They sit.) 

Mrs. B. I'm glad to hear it, Harry, glad to hear it. 

Harry. And you mustn't believe too much of what Sam 
Sprague says, for he was on his beer most all the time he 
was in Boston. 

Mrs. B. On his bier ! How very odd. I've heard of 
old people sleeping in their coffins, but for a young man — 



CHUMS. 7 

Harry. I mean that he drank beer, very much beer, and 
didn't always know what he was about. 

Br. What a dreadful thing! Tm glad you don't drink, 
Harry. I don't mind smoking so much, but drinking is a 
detestable vice. 

Mrs. B. Detestable vice. 

Harry. Yes, I know it, I know it. {Rising.) But I 
want to run out and see the farm, — get a snufif of pure Ver- 
mont air before dinner. It's as good as a cocktail. 

Mrs. B. a cocktail ! Why, we're going to have a whole 
turkey. 

Harry {/lurriediy). Yes, I know ; but by-the-way, what 
time do you have grub ? 

Br. in May, "Harry, in May. They're all gone now. 
You'll find plenty of angle-worms down at the old place. 
But you won't go a-fishing to-day ? 

Harry. No, no ! grub is college slang for food ; dinner, 
you know. 

Br, ( ivifh dignify). Harry, I wish you would try and use 
more appropriate words. 1 am aware that John the Baptist 
lived upon locusts ; but in the nineteenth century the word 
grub does not suggest food. We dine at one. 

Mrs. B. Yes, and I must go and look after that turkey ; 
it needs basting. {Exit l.) 

Br. And I'll go and see about some garden truck. I 
remember your fondness for greens. {Exit L.) 

Harry. Whew ! if I haven't had a series of sensations. 
Talk of cold keys down your back ; why, it was a whole 
sheet anchor chain, and every link gave me a chill. But I'm 
all safe. They don't know of my little larks, and if Tom, 
whom I've invited to spend a few weeks with me, don't let 
the cat out of the bag, I shall be all right. By Jove ! it's 
such a relief, I'd almost dance out of very joy. {Dances at 
front ; enter Mr. B., l., glasses on top of his head.) 

Br. Where did I leave my specs? {Seeing Harry.) 
Why, Harry, what's the matter .'* 

Harry {confused). Why, I — you see, my foot got 
asleep, and then I had a cramp, and so — 

Br. Let me run and get some opodeldoc, or — I know — 
your mother's got some balm-of-Gilead. {Going.) 

Harry {stopping him by coat-tails). No, no! don't go ! 
I'm all right now. Cramp is gone. 

Br. Now we are alone, Harry, I want to speak to you 



5 CHUMS. 

about one thing on which I've set my heart. Now sit down, 
and I'll tell you. {They sit.) 

Harry. Well, sir. 

Br. Well, you know I've given you a good education. 
It's about all I can do for you. The farm won't much more 
than support us old people, and you won't want to be a 
farmer. Tell me, what have you directed your attention to 
this last year? (IVaru bell.) 

Harry. Why, physics, chiefly. 

Br. Physic ; well, it's a noble profession, but it don't 
pay. I had hoped the law — 

Harry {iuterrtcpting). You misunderstand. Physics, 
not physic, — chemistry, natural philosophy, etc. I haven't 
thought of a profession yet. 

Br. Ah ! well, then we'll say the law. But it'll be a long 
time before you are earning much, and you'll want money. 
Now there is one sound maxim, " If you haven't been fortu- 
nate in the selection of a father, be judicious in the selection 
of a father-in-law." 

Harry. But I have been fortunate, so there is no occa- 
sion to be judicious. 

Br. Thank you, Harry, thank you; but I see farther and 
clearer than you do. You must splice. 

Harry. Splice.^ 

Br. Yes, in our Vermont slang, that means marry. Now 
I know just the girl. 

Harry. But, sir ! 

Br. Wait ; you want in a wife {coiintitig 07i JiJigers) first,' 
money ; second, education ; third, beauty. 

Harry. How about love ? 

Br. Pshaw, that's what your mother says. That will 
come in time. Now your cousin, Hepsibah Strong, has one 
hundred thousand dollars clear, has been at school and Vas- 
sar College, and is just the girl to make you a good wife. 

Harry. But about the beauty t 

Br. I haven't seen her for many years, but if there is 
anything in the promise of childhood, she is lovely. 

Harry. Well, how did you do ? You didn't marry for 
money, nor for scholarship, — I can't say about beauty. 

Br. Ahem ! That doesn't enter into the case. I have 
set my heart on this match. 

Harry. Well, to be frank with you, I don't like it. I 
can earn my money. I don't care so very much for 
beauty, and as for learning, I do hate a blue-stocking. 



CHUMS. 9 

Br. But she may wear white. May wear white, Harry, 
or striped ; I've heerd tell they're all the go now, — and I tell 
you, I will have it. 

Harry. And I tell you, I won't have it. I'll have love, or 
nothing. 

Br. Say love and nothing ! There, there, we won't quar- 
rel on your first day home. Think it over, Harry, think it 
over. Go and see the cows and calves, the calves. That'll 
make you think of love — that is, sensible love — one hun- 
dred thousand dollars clear. Go now, after dinner well talk 
again ; as for beauty, well, she'll be here soon. I've invited 
her to spend the summer. Now go along, go along. {Pushes 
Jiijn off.) Oh, he'll come round. He must, once let me get 
her here. {Bell outside.) This may be she. {Enter Tom 
Burn- HAM, r., in female costume.) 

To.M {falsetto voice always, except when alo7ie or with 
Harry). I beg pardon, no one answered the bell, I ven- 
tured to walk in. This is Mr. Breed's ? 

Br. Yes, my dear niece, it is. I needn't ask your name. 
Your likeness to your father tells me who you are. You are 
right welcome. {Kisses him; aside,) Harry must like 
that. 

Tom {embarrassed). Yes, I — I should like to see Harry. 
Br. Of course you would, of course. You know your 
father's wish. But he will be here soon ; lay off your things, 
and ril go and find him. But, Hepsibah — 
Tom {puzzled). Hepsibah ? 

Br. Yes, or do they call you Hepsy ? Anyhow, I want 
to tell you, you mustn't expect to find Harry a rough, royster- 
ing fellow, because he has been to college. He's very mod- 
est : in fact, bashful, and if he seems cold or unsympathetic, 
it is only his way, you know, only his way. He's all right at 
the heart. He's very fond of you, indeed he is. I'll go and 
find him. {Exit L.) 

Tom {natural voice). Well, upon my soul! Here I come 
to spend a week or two with Harry, and just for a lark came 
in female attire, relics of the society theatricals, and I am 
received with open arms, find 1 am expected; in fact, a niece, 
and my name is Hepsibah. Harry, too, is modest, cold, — - 
ha, ha! — well, he's undergone a change in the last week, if 
that's the case. What the deuce does it all mean ? I wish 
he would come. Niece — now let me see. {Retires to win- 
dow ; enter Harry, l.) 



lO CHUMS. 

Harry. Mother says her name is Hepsibah. Now who 
could love a woman named Hepsibah ? How could a man 
make a pet name of that ? Hepsy, bah! suggests dyspepsy. 
Her last name is Strong. If I were a freshman, I should 
say probably Strong-minded. However, Strong she shall 
remain to the end of her days, for all me. {^Seeing Tom.) 
Holloa! a female ! Probably my cousin. Humph, what a 
figure ! Well, " Laissez /aire " is my motto, and lazy fair 
she looks. {Takes book from table, aiid looks at it.) 

Tom {iurni7ig j j-<?,?///^ Harry). Hulloa! there's Harry! 
Harry ! {Falsetto voice.) 

Harry {aside). " Harry ;" bow disgustingly familiar! 

Tom {falsetto). Cousin Harry ! Dear cousin Harry. 

Harry {aside). This is perfectly sickening. {.Yot look- 
ing lip-) 

"Tom {)iatii7'ally). Come, now {hitting liim)., wake up !! ! 

Harry {electrified; tnriiing). Well, by all that's won- 
derful, Tom Burnham ! How'did you come here in this rig? 
Explain ! 

Tom. Explain, — I like that. Didn't you invite me .'' 
Explain yourself. How is it that I suddenly discover myself 
to be your cousin, cousin Hepsibah, and that you are cold, 
modest, etc., etc. t 

Harry. By Jove ! dad has mistaken you for the real 
cousin. Tom {tragically), I am on the verge of despair. 
Misery stares me in the face. 

Tom. Let it stare. It'll be the first thing that ever 
looked you out of countenance. 

Harry. No, %ithout jesting, I am threatened with — 
with — matrimony ! ! ! 

Tom. Good Lord ! you don't say so. Who's your mash ? 

Harry. She isn't a mash at all. Dad has picked her 
out. I never saw her, and what's more, I don't want to. 

Tom. Unhappy man, I weep for you ; that is, I would. 
But how diflferent is your case from mine. Now my Flora 
would have me in a minute if it wasn't for her fatlier having 
arranged, before his death, for her marriage with a booby of 
a cousin whom she has never seen. I'd like to find him, and 
strangle him. 

Harry {after a mo7nenfs reflection; suddenly). By 
Jove, Tom, you can save me. Yes, you can. 

Tom. I ? 

Harry. Cert' ! The folks think you are this wretched 



CHUMS. 1 1 

female. Continue to represent her, disgust them with her, 
and I am saved. 

Tom. Well, I like that When I am found out, as I shall 
be sure to be. what becomes of my visit ? 

Harry. Oh, I'll fix that. Wouldn't you risk a week in 
the country for me ? 

Tom. Of course I would, but if my Flora should hear of 
it, she would give me tlie sack at once. If there is any one 
thing she particularly dislikes, it is masquerading. 

Harry. So do my parents ; but you are safe enough ; 
they'll never suspect. {Aside.) I rather think I won't tell 
him that Hepsibah is coming soon. 

Tom. Yes, I'll do it. But, Harry, just fix that infernal 
bird-cage of mine, will you } It feels as if it was coming off. 
(Harry arranges pull-back ; enter Mrs. B., l.) 

Mrs. B. Why, Harry, what are you doing ? {Tableau.) 

Harry. I — I was just fixing cousin's dress here. She 
asked me to ; didn't you ? 

Mrs. B. Allow me to remark, miss, that, while I am glad 
to see you, I think such arrangements of costume might be 
more modestly left to me. 

Tom. Oh, it was only my bustle, aunt ; and then, I don't 
mind my cousin ; nobody m.inds cousins. 

Harry. Besides, mother, ^' A bird on toast is worth 
two in the soup." But perhaps, as you are here, you will 
fix it. 3 

Mrs. B. Certainly. {Tries to arrange dress.) Well, I 
must say, these new-fangled notions ain't quite so easy. I 
do believe I can't do it. 

Harry. Never mind, tinker your own cage, Tom. 

Mrs. B. Tom? {Tableau.) 

HAR.iY {aside; confused). Now I have done it ! 

Tom {quicklv). Yes, didn't you know? I was just tell- 
ing Harry. Fatlier was awfully disappointed that I wasn't a 
boy. So', although mother would christen me Hepsibah, 
pa always called me Tom. You see ? 

Mrs. B. Well. I am aware there is nothing particularly 
poetical about your front name ; but while tomboys are bad 
enough, tomgirls are worse, and as long as you wear petti- 
coats, I prefer that you should not be called Tom. 

Harry. All right, then, I won't. But come along to my 
den and fix your dress. 

Mrs. B. {severely). Harry! Your cousin will have the 



12 CHUMS. 

spare chamber. There will be no necessity for your giving 
up your room. But can't you wait till after dinner } 

Tom. Oh, I think so. I guess the thing is all right, 
anyhow. 

Mrs. B. Very well. Dinner will be ready soon. 

{Exit L.) 

ToAi. I say, Harry, that was a narrow squeak. Don't be 
so careless. But I am dying for a smoke. Haven't you a 
cigarette ? 

Harry. Yes, here they are. {Producing case. They 
take cigarettes and light. Both sit on opposite sides of the 
table ivith feet upoji it, chairs tipped back^ Bv-the-wav, 
Tom, you spoke of Flora. What's her name ? Where does 
she live.'* Is she rich ? Nov/ go on. You can't be happier 
than when singing her praises. {If Tom can play banjo, 
here is place to introdj^ce that, or song, or both.) 

Tom. Oh, no. 1 am not in the mood. 
{Enter Mr. B., l.) 

Br. Why, bless me! Hepsibah, what are you doing? 

( Tableau.') 

Tom {he and Harry both Jianping). I — that is — I 
why, you see, I am subject to very severe attacks of phthisic, 
and my doctor ordered me to smoke to relieve them. 

Br. But that position ? 

Harry. Oh, that's to change the blood current, you 
know. Take the pressure off the lungs, 5'ou see. 

Br. {doubtfully). Um ! P''raps so .^ But don't you find 
smoking as disagreeable as the phthisic ? 

Tom. Not at all. You see I inhale. {Blowing cloud in 
his face ^ 

Br. {coughing). Ahem! yes, I see, but I don't. Well, 
well, sit down. I am very glad to have you here, very glad. 
Your father was my favorite brother-in-law. (Tom sits at 
table, Br. stands opposite, Hakry r. f.) 

Tom. Yes, I often heard him speak of you, especially 
when he was sick with rheumatics last winter. 

Br. {astonished). Last winter! Why, it is five years 
since he was laid in the cold ground. 

Harry {aside). No wonder he had the rheumatics. 

Tom {confused). Oh, yes, you mean my other father. 

Br. Other father ? 

Tom. Yes. Didn't you. know mother had married again ? 

Br. Married again 1 W^hy, she was in the lunatic asylum, 
I thought. 



CHUMS. t3 

Tom {to Harry; aside). Come, help me. I'm over my 
ears now. 

Harry. Why, fother, cousin has told me more in five 
minutes than you have learned in five years. She was in the 
asylum, pronounced incurable, but a new physician came, 
performed an operation, perfectly tremendous —trephined — 
you know, took out a large piece of the skull, and —and — 

Tom. Found a piece of a hair-pin actually embedded in 
the cineritious matter, at the anterior superior convolution 
of the cerebrum. {Aside.) Whew! 

Br. Bless me ! How wonderlul, how wonderful ! 
_ Tom. But the curious part of it is, they put in a piece of 
zinc where they took the bone out. They couldn't put that 
back, you know, and every time she takes vinegar, it acts on 
the zinc, and makes her a perfect galvanic battery. Her 
arms and legs go jerking about, utterly uncontrollable. Why, 
it costs us five dollars for broken crockery every time we 
have pickles. 

Harry. Yes, sir, the Bell Telephone Company actually 
wanted to engage her for life. 

Br. Wonderful, wonderful! And so she's married 
again ? How could any one marry her .? 

Tom {aside). I think I'll go it a bit now. {Aloud.) 
Why, it was odd, very odd, but the w^ay was this : Deacon 
Furbish called on her one evening — it was leap year — he 
was a very bashful man. He was talking of his lonely state 
when all of a sudden — they had been drinking lemonade — 
the battery began to work, and after cuffing the deacon's 
ears for five minutes, she embraced him convulsively, and 
the effects only passed off as Furbish screamed out, " I am 
thine." Ha, ha, ha! 

Harry {convulsed) Ha, ha, ha ! 

Br. Well, that is the strangest thing I ever heard of. 
{Going to L. ; callino.) Mother, mother, just come and hear 
this. {Enter Mrs. B., l.) Just listen to what happened to 
your sister, and you never knew it. Now tell her. 

Tom {coughing). Oh, I've got the phthisic again. You 
tell, Harry. 

Mrs. B. Yes, tell me. What is it ? 

Harry {speaking rapidly). Why, five years after she 
was laid in the cold 'ground^ 

Br. No, you mean he was laid in the cold ground. 

Harry. Yes, of course. He was trephined for rheu- 
matics. 



14 CHUMS. 

Br. {interrupting). No, no. 

Harry. And they found inside the brain a whole gal- 
vanic battery, and so they married her to Deacon Hairpin. 

Br. Harry, Harry, that is all wrong. 

Tom. Say, uncle,' "hire a hall." 

Br. " Hire a hall ! " What for ? 

Tom. I mean "give us a rest." 

Mrs. B. Why certainly, my dear. Dinner is almost 
ready. 

Harry. Good enough! {lyieatrically.) "Goon. I'll 
follow thee," 

Mrs. B. {going; asi(fc-). I must say I don't like that 
young woman very much. {Exit L. Mr. B. retires tip. 
Harry and Tom come to front.) 

Tom. I say, we shall never get through the day. Those 
parents nearly did the business. If Td had to go back a 
generation I never could have done it. 

Harry. Oh, "keep a stiff upper lip." The worst is over. 

Tom. Well, I hope so. But, Great Scott, haven't I a 
mouth on me ? 1 suppose there's no such thing as getting a 
cobbler in this place 1 

Mr. B. {overhearing; coining doivn). Cobbler ? Oh, 
yes. Si Rugg is a very good one. Anything you wish } 
V\\ send right around. 

Tom. Thanks awfully. But I'm afraid he could not fur- 
nish the tap I want. Eh, Harry? 

Br. Then, Harry, I'd like to have you come and help me 
a few minutes, if your cousin here will spare us. 

Tom. Oh, certainly. {Exettnt Hakky and ^k.) 

{Enter Mrs. B., l.) 

Mrs. B. There, now I've got a few minutes, I want to have 
a sober talk with you. Your father and Harry's have settled 
it that you are to marry one another. I don't believe in such 
matches myself, but never mind ; that's their business. Tell 
me, what can you do? You've been to Vassar, and I've not 
a doubt, have plenty of book learnin', but that ain't all that's 
necessary to make life happy for you both. Now what can 
you do? 

Tom. Oh, I can sing and play. 

Mrs. B. I mean with your hands. What can you make ? 

Tom. They say I make a pretty fair pitcher. 

Mrs. B. Make a pitcher. Well, that is something; what 
else ? 



CHtfMS. i^ 

Tom. Oh, I can pull a single scull. 

Mrs. B. I hope not, I hope not. Of course, you'll have 
your little tiffs, but 1 hope never resort to violence. 

Tom. You don't understand. When I say single scull, I 
mean a boat. 1 can row a boat. 

Mrs. B. Umph ! Well, as Harry isn't likely to be a 
lighthouse keeper, I don't see much good in that. Can you 
sew ? 

Tom. {forgetting and surprised). Sew? Sew? 

Mrs. B. 'So, so ! Well, that's better than not at all. 
Can you cook ? 

Tom. Cook ? Well, no. That's a subject that's better 
understood at Yale than Vassar. 

Mrs. B. Oh, 'tis, is it ? Well, I never did think much of 
male cooks. 

Tom. Well, but, aunt, you know those things you speak 
of are relics of a by-gone age. {Rising theatrically.) 
Woman has a nobler sphere. Think of Anna Dickinson or 
Lucy Stone. Think of Mary Bashirtoff. Did they busy 
themselves with the petty details of domestic affairs ? No, 
marm. 1 tell you, when the time comes, as come it will, 
when we shall see the result of the theory of the survival of 
the fittest, there will not be a man, not one, left upon the face 
of the earth. Think of it. Think of a whole world peopled 
with ambitious, progressive' women. 

Mrs. B. My stars! I don't want to live then. All your 
ambitious, progressive women wouldn't make one grand- 
father, or a father, and I think fathers are convenient. 

Tom {prating). Will you then tamely submit to the 
domination of an inferior class ? Will you supinely serve, 
where you might command ? 

Mrs. B. {aside). Laws-a-mercy ! I do believe the girl's 
insane. She's got it from her mother with the battery. I'll 
just put a stop to this match, so I will. {Exit l.) 

Tom. Ha, ha, ha! I rather think that fixed matters for 
Harry, and I think I'd better be off before I'm discovered. 
{Goes np for hat.) 

{Enter Flora, r.) 

Flora. Very strange that no one was at the train to 
meet me, and that I should be left to hire a private con- 
veyance. Where can all the folks be ? {Seeing Tom.) Ah ! 
there's a young lady. I didn't know there was a daughter. 
{Coughs.) This is, I presume (Tom turns; tableau.) 
Mr. Burnham 1 



l6 CHUMS. 

Tom {confounded; coining front. Aside). Flora, by all 
that is unlucky ! I am ruined. No, I'll brazen it out. 
{A lo7td, falsetto.) You asked me — .? 

Flora {coldly). Mr. Burnham, what does this mean ? 

Tom. Mr. Burnham ? Excuse me, young lady. It 
apparently means that you have been drinking or had a 
sunstroke. 

Flora. Do you mean to tell me that you are not my 
friend Tom Burnham ? 

Tom, Beautiful but erratic female, allow me to state, such 
a question does not speak well for your friend, Mr. Burnham, 
whoever he may be. Is he in the habit of attiring himself in 
the costume which fashion has prescribed for oiir sex ? 

Flora {pointedly). I trust not. If 1 should ever find he 
did, he'd be no longer friend of mine. 

Tom {aside). How shall I ever get out of this ? 

Flora. Then you are one of the family ? This is your 
home ? 

Tom. Well, if consanguinity has any claims, I think I 
may say that this is my home. But perhaps you'll be kind 
enough to state your business. 

Flora. Can it be that you are one of the family, and do 
not know } My name is Flora H. Strong, or as they know 
me here, Hepsibah Strong, the misfortune of Hepsibah 
having been inflicted on me when 1 was too young to resist. 
I have been invited to make a visit here. 

Tom {aside). The cousin, by jingo! This is growing 
interesting. {Aloud.) Ah, yes, of course, liow stupid of 
me. Dear cousin, {embraces her) glad to see you. {Kisses 
her several times.) I'll go and tell the folks you've come. 
{Kisses again.) Now you stay right here. {Going.) I'll 
{comes back., kiss) be back directly. {Exit l.) 

Flora. Well, I must say my cousin is affectionate. But 
how very odd. I never saw such a marvellous resemblance. 
1 was sure it was Tom. {Thoitghtfnlly.) She kissed like 
Tom, too. But no, it can't be, of course. 
{Enter Mr. B., l.) 

Br. Hepsibah! Hepsibah! {Calling.) 

Flora. Oh, there's uncle. Do call me Flora, Mr. 
Breed. 

Br. {seeing her; s^trfirised). Certainly, I'll call you 
Flora if you wish me to. Of course you know your own 
name, but I was looking for — 



CHUMS. \J 

Flora {interrupting). Your daughter has just gone to find 
you. 

Br. Daughter? {Aside.) Oh, it's some friend of 
Hepsy's, who knows all about the marriage, and so speaks 
of her as my daughter. {Aloud.) My daughter, yes, that 
is, soon will be. 

Flora. Will be ? I understood — 

Br. {interrupting^). Of course you did, of course you did. 
That's all right. No offence, no offence. Are you staying in 
the village.'^ 

Flora. Well, I must say, for one v/lio has been invited — 

Br. {interrufding). Ah, yes. I didnl i-iiow — 

Flora. Didn't know ? Didn't you write to your niece 
to come and spend several weeks with you } 

Br. Certainly, certainly. {Aside.) I see Hepsy has 
invited her friend to make the visit with her. {Aloud.) 
You are right Vvfelcome. Lay off your things. How is your 
mother ? 

Flora. Physically she seems very v/ell, but she still 
suffers from her mental trouble. 1 only came from tlie 
asylum yesterday. 

Br. Indeed, indeed, left the asylum yesterday ? {Start- 
ing.) You haven't had an operation, have you } {Trying to 
look at her head.) Haven't a piece of zinc up there, have 
you? {Retreating.) If you have, you haven't been drinking 
vinegar, have you ? Ain't liable to {i,nitating jerking) you 
know? {Aside.) 'Pon my word, she looks wild. 

Flora. What does he mean ? Ah, I see. {Touching 
forehead.) Runs in the family, runs in the family — poor 
mother. I'm afraid uncle will join lier soon. 
{Enter Hakry, r.) 

Harry. Where has Tom gone? I can't find him any- 
where. {Seei)ig Y\.o\\t\.) The cousin, by jingo ! 

Br. Ah, Harry, let me introduce — 

Harry {hastily). Ah, yes. How de do? I heard you 
were coming. Been expecting you some time. {Aside.) 
She is pretty, by Jove. 

Flora {aside). Umph, he isn't so very bad, but then I 
can't give up Tom. {Aloud.) Our parents were such 
friends, we certainly ought to be. 

Br. Our parents ? Did I then ever have the pleasure — 

Harry {i7iterrupting). Oh, don't you see ? {Takes him 
back J whispering.) 



1 8 CHUMS. 

Flora. Poor uncle^ he's very bad. 

Br. {coming down). Ah, yes, I understand. I'll go at 
once. (Harry pushes him off l.) 

Harry {aside). On the whole, I don't think I dislike 
this match so much. {Aloud.) My dear cousin, how very 
fetching you are this morning. 

Flora. Thank you, Mr. Breed. 

Harry. Isn't Mister a bit formal for cousins ? What's 
the matter with Harry 1 

Flora. But it is so dreadfully familiar on so short an 
acquaintance. 

Harry. Oh, but Hepsibah — 

Flora. There, there, it's a bargain. Don't call me that, 
and I'll call you Harry. 

{Enter Tom at back.) 

Harry. All right, seal the bond. ( Kisses her. Tom 
shakes his fist.) It was only to-day that I learned of our 
parents' wishes as to our future. I needn't tell you I was 
delighted. I fairly danced with joy. 

Tom {aside). Oh, the villain! 

Flora. Excuse me, I am not so ready for this match. 
To be frank, my affections are already engaged. 

Harry. Oh, but give me a chance. Remember, obedi- 
ence to our parents is our duty. 

Flora. Oh, but that w"as a mere whim when we were chil- 
dren. Besides, my mother's insane. I see your father is 
also not quite rigb.t, so it would be wicked to marr}'. 

Harry. Father insane ? Oh, you are quite mistaken. 

Plora. Never mind, 1 couldn't do it. It would break 
poor Tom's heart. 

Harry. Tom ? Tom v^lio? 

Flora. Thomas Burnham. You must have seen him at 
Harvard. 

Harry. I knew him well. You don't mean that you are 
going to throw yourself away on him ? (Tom coughs ; comes 
forward.) Ah, Julia, this is Miss Strong. 

Tom. Oh, yes, we've met before;. 

Harry. Ah, well, I was just speaking of Tom Burnham. 
Why. he was notoriously the fastest man in college. 

Flora. Dear me ! 

Harry. Oh, yes, billiards, theatre, and above all, a 
desperate flirt. 

Tom. Harry, this is outrageous. 



CHUMS. 19 

Harry {aside). Keep quiet, or you are lost. {To 
Flora.) You see, Julia is interested. She is very fond of 
Tom. In fact, thinks more of him than any one else. I 
shouldn't be surprised if they were one for life. 

Tom. Harry, I'll not stand it. This is abominable ! 

Flora. Don't excuse him. Don't mention him. Oh, 
the wretch ! {Crying.) 

Tom. Oh, I can't stand this. 

Harry {aside). Well, if you want to spoil all your 
chances! {To Flora.) Now will you not promise to be 
mine ? 

Flora. No, no! I'll never trust a man again. He 
swore he loved me, would never look at another girl, and 
now he's gone and engaged himself to somebody else. It's 
bigamy ! {Sits weeping.) 

Tom {crosses to Flora). But I say, if you feel so bad, 
I'll make a sacrifice. I'll give him up. You may have 
him. 

Flora-. What, take the cast-off of another girl? Never ! 
ril tear him from my heart. {Takes out cabinet photo and 
tears it up.) There, Til never see him again as long as I 
live. Never I I won't 1 

Tom {to Harry). You've made a nice mess for me, 
haven't you ? 

Harry {to Tom). There, there, make the best of it, old 
man. You see you can't have her. Fil take her, and every- 
body will be happy. 

Tom. No, I'll be hanged if you do! You're not the 
fawner for my Flora. Dear Miss Flora — 

Flora {rising ; drying eyes). Don't speak to me. I 
hate yOu, because he loves you. I'll go home at once. 

Harry. Oh, no ! Not at once. 

Tom. Yes, I think she'd better go. 

Flora. Then I won't. {Sittifig.) 

Tom. Very well, if you won't go, I will. {Going.) 

Flora. No, you shan't ! I'll go myself. Harry, tell 
your father that circumstances over wl ich 1 had no control 
compel me to abandon my intended visit. {Going.) 
{Enter Mrs. B.,Jlonrofiface, etc., l.) 

Mrs. B. What's that 1 Abandon your visit ? No, no ! 
We've plenty of room. Father's told me all about you. Now 
do try and make yourself comfortable. 

Flora {rcienting^. Well, if you insist. 



20 CHUMS. 

Mrs. B. Insist ? Of course I do. {Aside.) Now if 
Harrv would only take her, and let this crazy cousin go, 
i^E?iter Mr. B., r.) 

Br. Well, I've found you at last, have I ? I've hunted 
the whole house over for you. Hepsibah, it wasn't quite right 
for you to go off and leave your friend all alone. 

Flora. Leave my friend all alone? 

Br. No, not you. I was speaking to Hepsibah here. 

Flora. Hepsibah ? I thought her name was Julia.'* 

Harry {quickly). So it is. Hepsibah Julia. 

Mrs. B. Not to mention Tom, " as her father always used 
to call her." 

Harry {looking to ivindoiL' ; trying to change the subject). 
But I say, aren't we going to have a shower ? 

Tom {aside). A full-grown thunder-storm, if I'm any 
judge. 

Br. No, no. It is perfectly clear. 

Flora. Not to me, at any rate. There's some mystery 
here, or this is Bedlam. {To Tom.) You say yoiir nanie is 
Hepsibah Julia Breed ? 

Br. {trying to pacify her). No, no! She is a Strong. 

f^LORA. i don't care if she is, so am I. Now, sir, if you 
have a lucid interval, I should like to know why \ou have 
never told me that you had a daughter. 

Br. Why.'' Why! Bless me, because I never had one. 
{Aside.) The battery is beginning to work. 

Tom. There, you hear. He never had a daughter. 

Harry. Yes. yes. he never had a daughter. {Tryirig to 
charige the subject agaifi.) Don't you think 3-ou'd better shut 
the window^s ? I think there's going to be a breeze. 

Tom {aside). So do I. A regular snorter. 

Br. Oh, nonsense. But, by-the-way, Heps}-, you haven't 
introduced us to your friend. 

Tom. My friend 1 Mine? 

Br. Yes, she asked me to call her Flora, but Flora 
what ? 

Harry. Well, that is a lloorer ! 

Flora {to Mrs. B.). You know me, auntie, don't you? 
When uncle gets better he will. 

Mrs. B. Auntie? Uncle? Get better? 

Br. There, I told you I thought she was crazy still. 
Only yesterday out of the asylum. It's dreadful ! 

Tom. Perfectly awful. 



CHUMS. 2t 

Br. (/<? Tom). You'd better keep away from her. 

Mrs. B. {soothingly). Poor thing, poor thing! Did you 
think I was your auntie ? 

Flora. Think you were my aunt ? If your name is 
Hannah Breed, and mine Flora Strong, I most certainly do. 

Mrs. B. Flora Strong ? Flora Hepsibah Strong t 

Flora. Yes. 

Br. Oh, she's mad. 

Flora. No, I am not mad, but soon shall be mighty 
mad, if I don't get some explanation. Here's your letter 
inviting me to visit you. i^Produci7tg letter^ 

Br. {taking it). So it is. {To Tom.) But who are you ? 

Mrs. B. Yes, who are you ? 

Tom. Why— I — 

Flora. Now tell the truth. 

Harry. Yes, out with it. The game is up. 

Tom. Well, I am Harry's chum, Tom Burnham. 

Flora {ironically). Pardon me. You've either been 
drinking or had a sunstroke, beautiful but erratic female. 

Tom.' But, Flora — 

Flora. I know Mr. Burnham well, and I know that he 
would never indulge in masquerading like this, unless per- 
haps for some noble purpose. 

Tom. But that's just why I did. 

All. How .? Explain. 

Tom {rapidly). Why, I wanted to marry you ; you 
wanted to marry me ; Harry wanted to marry nobody — the 
governor here wanted Harry to marry — well, you see how it 
was, I interfered in the interests of true love. 

Br. Then your mother's — no, I mean her mother's 
marriage with Mr. Furbish is all gammon ? 

Tom. Yes, sir, " furbished " up for the occasion. 

Mrs. B. And she hasn't any zinc in her head ? 

Harry. No more than I have. But, Flora, since you 
have cast Tom off, shall we consider ourselves engaged ? 

Tom. Oh, Flora, do forgive me this once. 'Twas all for 
your good, you know. I'll never get into petticoats again, 
and you — you may wear the {ifidicating trojisers) all our 
wedded Hfe. 

Flora. Well, so be it. Uncle, you'll have to give me up. 

Br. Well, I suppose I must. Eh, mother.? 

Mrs. B. I always said so. 

Harry. So did I. 



22 CHUMS. 

Br. Then bless you, my daughters — I mean my nieces 
— I mean — anyhow, bless you, bless you. 

Tom. Then we are forgiven ? {Co;/ii7tg fo?-ward.) Need 
we ask forgiveness here, can you forgive all the shortcomings 
of these College Chums.'' 

CURTAIN. 



TWO NEW COMLEDIKS 

By tlie Author of "A RICE PUDDING." 

M A utograph j etter . 

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The author of "Anita's Trial," "Young Mr. Pritchard,' 
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A comedy drama in three acts for five male and five female charac 
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THE WAY TO H18 POCKET. 

By the Same Author. 

Price, _----. -15 cents. 

A comedy in one act for two male and three female characters. Scene 
an interior, costumes modern. All its requirements are simple to the 
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JS FllRClCE COMEDY IN TWO ACTS. 

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Four male and three female characters. This laughable comedy o'. 
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SHALL OUR MOTHERS VOTE? Hu. 

morous debate for 11 boys. 

SNOW BOUND. Musical and dramatic en- 
tertainment. 3 males, i fomale. 25 ceuts. 

STAND BY THE FLAG. Drama in one 
act. 5 males. 

SILVIA'S SOLDIER. Drama in two acts. 
3 males, 2 females. 

TEMPTER, THE. Drama in one act. 3 
males, i female. 

TENDER ATTACHMENT, A. Farce k 

one act. 7 males. 
THIEF OF TIME, THE. Farce in one 

act. 6 males. 
THIRTY MINUTES FOR REFRESH* 

ments. Farce in one act. 4 males, 3 fem. 

THORN AMONG THE ROSES, A. Com. 

edy in one act. 2 males, 8 females. 
TITANIA. Play for children in two acts. 
Many char. 25 CentS. 

TOO LATE FOR THE TRAIN. Dialogue 

for 2 males, introducing songs and recitations. 

TOURNAMENT OF IDYLWENT, THE. 

Allegory for 13 females. 
VISIONS OF FREEDOM. Allegory for 

16 females. 
USING THE WEED. Farce in one act. 

7 females. 

WANTED, A MALE COOK. Farce ia 

one act. 4 males. 
WAR OF TFK ROSES. Allegory for 8 

females. 
WE'RE ALL TEETOTALERS. Farce lo 

one scene. 4 males, 2 females. 



WALTER H. BAKER, & CO. (P.O. Box 2846), Boston, Mass 




A NEW PLAY FOR FEMATK CHARAr.TF.RS 

A Compamm to "REBECi. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

ANITA'S 

Or, our Girls „., ,,3 ^ 

By Esther B. Tiffany, author of "A Rite y uuumg, Anm-jraiiitH., 
" Young Mr. Pritchard," etc. 

Price, -------as cents. 

This is a bright and sparkling comedy in three acts, for eleven 
female characters. Its story is entertaining, and its dialogue dis- 
tinguished by this author's delicate humorous touch. One scene only 
is necessary for the three acts — a camp in the woods, easily arranged. 
The dresses are simple and picturesque camping costumes. The enor- 
mous success of " Rebecca's Triumph " has created a demand for this 
sort of piece, to meet which we confidently present "Anita's Trial," 
in which is solved, with no less success than in its predecessor, the 
difficult problem of constructing a play of strong human interest with- 
out the assistance of male characters. , 

The n HRQNQTHANATQLETRO N: 

OR, OLD TIMES MADE NEW. 

An entertainment in one act for sixteen girls, written for the Class Day 
Exercises at Dana Hall School, Wellesley, Mass., by two members 
of the Class of '87 and first performed before members of the school 
and their friends, June 18, 1887, and later at Ellsworth, Maine, 
April 6, 1888. 

Price, -------35 cents. 



THE PEAK SISTERS. 

A humorous entertainment for young ladies. Arranged by Mary B. 
HoRNE. Any number of ladies may take part, but seven only are 
necessary. No scenery; costumes very simple. This laughable 
trifle meets with invariable success wherever performed. 

Price, ._-_--- 15 centg. 



THE BOOK OF DRILLS. 

I3^I^1' I. 

A group of entertainments for female characters for stage or floor per- 
formance, by Mary B. Horne, the author of " The Peak Sisters," etc. 

Price, -------30 centg. 



WALTER E BAKER \ CO, PniMers, 23 Winter St, Boston. 



%, J. PARKHIkk * CO., PRINTERS, 222 FRANKLIN ST., BOSTON. 



